Actrema is the first approved treatment in more than 50 years for GCA, a chronic and potentially life-threatening disease typically found in persons age 50 or older. Symptoms include severe headaches, jaw pain, and visual symptoms that can lead to blindness, aortic aneurysm, and stroke. Past treatment has been limited to high-dose steroids, which do not always prevent flare-free remission.

Full data from the phase 3 GiACTA trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01791153), a multicenter, randomized-double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the use of Actemra in patients with active GCA, will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting in 2016.

The primary outcome measure evaluated in GiACTA is the proportion of patients who maintain sustained remission 52-week post-randomization. Secondary outcome measures include time to GCA disease flare after clinical remission, reductions in total cumulative prednisone doses, and patient reported outcomes.